Hours ahead of the rollout, Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio declined to endorse Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp's plan for a rewrite of the country's tax code.

Pressed repeatedly on whether he supports the bill that the Camp, R-Mich., will unveil Wednesday afternoon, Boehner said only that it is a "discussion draft" that will begin a "conversation" about the issues.

"Jesus," he said exasperatedly, when asked whether the plan would be voted on this year. "We’re going to start the conversation today, and I expect the members and our constituents and the American people to take part in the conversation."

Boehner in previous years had labeled tax reform one of his top priorities — and it was a key feature of his failed grand bargain talks with President Barack Obama. Yesterday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., poured cold water on the chances of anything happening on the issue this year.